Order of Business Monday 12 November 2012

+ indicates Government business.
Timings are indicative only.

House of Commons

Order of Business

At 2.30 pm Prayers

Afterwards

Notes:   indicates a question for oral answer.

[R] indicates that the Member has declared a relevant interest.

Questions for oral answer not reached receive a written answer

Supplementary questions will also be asked. Other Ministers may also answer.

Oral Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

 1 Paul Burstow (Sutton and Cheam): What steps he is taking to support town centres. (127611)

 2 Fiona Bruce (Congleton): What progress his Department has made on developing proposals to reform the Audit Commission. (127612)

 3 Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire): What steps he is taking to tackle (a) unauthorised development and (b) illegal encampments. (127613)

 4 Iain Stewart (Milton Keynes South): What steps he is taking to inform social tenants of their right to buy. (127614)

 5 Mr Dave Watts (St Helens North): When he expects to announce the allocation of the transitional council tax grant to local authorities. (127615)

 6 Mr Ben Bradshaw (Exeter): Whether he plans to implement the proposals by Lord Heseltine for unitary local government. (127617)

 7 David Mowat (Warrington South): What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the powers of local authorities to deal with illegal traveller sites. (127618)

 8 Fiona Mactaggart (Slough): What assessment he has made of recent trends in private sector rents in local authority areas close to London; and if he will make a statement. (127619)

 9 Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West): What assessment he has made of progress by local authorities in implementing the National Planning Policy Framework and establishing local policies. (127620)

 10 Philip Davies (Shipley): What progress he has made on implementing the localism agenda in respect of planning policy. (127621)

 11 Jenny Chapman (Darlington): When he expects to announce the allocation of the transitional council tax grant to local authorities. (127622)

 12 Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne and Sheppey): What initiatives his Department has put in place to support access by householders to municipal rubbish and recycling centres. (127623)

 13 Teresa Pearce (Erith and Thamesmead): What legal advice he has received on whether councils will have to carry out a new consultation process if they adopt a new scheme of council tax relief in order to qualify for the transitional council tax grant. (127624)

 14 Alex Cunningham (Stockton North): Whether he has had discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on using the revenue received by the Exchequer from the forthcoming auction of the 4G mobile telephone spectrum to fund the building of affordable homes. (127626)

 15 Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South): What consideration his Department has given to the proposal by the Association of Metropolitan Fire and Rescue Authorities for a flat-rate reduction for all fire services. (127627)

 16 Mr Virendra Sharma (Ealing, Southall): If he will estimate the potential number of affordable homes, jobs and apprenticeships that would be created if the revenue from the auction of the 4G mobile telephone spectrum was used to fund an affordable house building programme by his Department. (127628)

 17 Yvonne Fovargue (Makerfield): When he expects to announce the allocation of the transitional council tax grant to local authorities. (127629)

 18 Stephen Pound (Ealing North): If he will estimate the potential number of affordable homes, jobs and apprenticeships that would be created if the revenue from the auction of the 4G mobile telephone spectrum was used to fund an affordable house building programme by his Department. (127630)

 19 Damian Hinds (East Hampshire): What steps he is taking to tackle (a) unauthorised development and (b) illegal encampments. (127631)

 20 Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire): What steps he is taking to abolish regional spatial strategies. (127632)

 21 Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole): What steps he is taking to support the creation of neighbourhood plans. (127633)

 22 Andrew Stunell (Hazel Grove): How many homes for social rent have been (a) built and (b) sold in England since 1997. (127634)

 23 Ian Mearns (Gateshead): If he will estimate the potential number of affordable homes, jobs and apprenticeships that would be created if the revenue from the auction of the 4G mobile telephone spectrum was used to fund an affordable house building programme by his Department. (127635)

At 3.15 pm

Topical Questions to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

The Members listed below have been selected by ballot to ask a Topical Question.

 T1 Mr Stephen Hepburn (Jarrow): If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities. (127636)

 T2 Jonathan Ashworth (Leicester South):  (127637)

 T3 Simon Hart (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire):  (127638)

 T4 Dr Julian Huppert (Cambridge):  (127639)

 T5 Charlie Elphicke (Dover):  (127640)

 T6 Alex Cunningham (Stockton North):  (127641)

 T7 Andrew Jones (Harrogate and Knaresborough):  (127642)

 T8 Mr Marcus Jones (Nuneaton):  (127644)

 T9 Dr Sarah Wollaston (Totnes):  (127645)

At 3.30 pm Urgent Questions (if any)

Ministerial Statements (if any)

Main Business

1 OPPOSITION DAY (9th allotted day) [Until 10.00 pm]

GOVERNMENT HANDLING OF ASH DIEBACK DISEASE

Edward Miliband

Mary Creagh

Hilary Benn

Jon Trickett

Mr Tom Harris

Ms Rosie Winterton

That this House notes that ash dieback, which could affect 80 million native ash trees, has been identified in 115 sites; further notes that Government ministers were informed of the disease on 3 April 2012; regrets that the public were not informed about the disease this spring and that a thorough survey of woodland was not carried out this summer; further regrets that the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has circulated a briefing to hon. Members from the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, but not the Opposition; recognises that 530 staff posts have already been cut from the Forestry Commission, including 38 posts in Forest Research which investigates tree diseases, and that the Forestry Commission budget will be cut from £47.5 million in 2010-11 to £36.2 million in 2014-15; calls on the Government to issue clear advice to tree growers and the public as to the best way to prevent disease spread and to work with all hon. Members, including the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, as well as councils and other affected stakeholders to fight this disease and ensure that lessons are learned; and further calls on the Government urgently to assess whether the Forestry Commission has adequate resources to guarantee that there are enough Forestry Commission staff and scientists to carry out further tree health surveys and to commit to work with all stakeholders to overcome the environmental, economic and ecological impact of this terrible disease.

FUEL DUTY

Edward Miliband

Ed Balls

Rachel Reeves

Cathy Jamieson

Catherine McKinnell

Ms Rosie Winterton

That this House believes that, at a time when the cost of living is rising and our economic recovery is fragile, it cannot be right to increase fuel duty by the planned 3 pence in January 2013; calls upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer to cancel this rise in fuel duty at least until next April; and believes that this change could be funded by clamping down on known tax avoidance schemes.

As an Amendment to Edward Miliband’s proposed Motion (Fuel Duty):

The Prime Minister

The Deputy Prime Minister

Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer

Secretary Vince Cable

Danny Alexander

Greg Clark

Mr David GaukeSajid Javid

(a)

Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add ‘notes that as a result of the action this Government has taken to cut, cancel and delay fuel duty rises families will save around £159 on fuel costs by April 2013; further notes that under the previous administration’s plans, voted for by the Leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Chancellor, pump prices would be 10 pence higher than they currently are; also notes that motorists in island communities are benefiting from the fuel duty discount pilot scheme; recognises that this Government has introduced a number of other measures to support families including a £1,100 increase in the personal income tax allowance from April 2013, three years of council tax freezes and a cap on rail fares; commends that these measures have been in part affordable because of the Government’s record of success in tackling tax avoidance and evasion which is on track to raise an additional £7 billion per annum by the end of this Parliament; and welcomes the Government’s commitment to do more to help with the cost of living in the future subject to the constraints of the public finances.’.

The selection of the matters to be debated this day has been made by the Leader of the Opposition (Standing Order No. 14(2)).

Debate may continue until 10.00 pm.

At 10.00 pm

† indicates Government Business

†  DEFERRED DIVISIONS [No debate]

The Prime Minister

That, at this day’s sitting, Standing Order No. 41A (Deferred divisions) shall not apply to the Motions in the name of Secretary Chris Grayling relating to Criminal Injuries Compensation and Crime and Security.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 41A(3)).

† 2 CRIMINAL INJURIES COMPENSATION [No debate]

Secretary Chris Grayling

That the draft Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 2012, which was laid before this House on 2 July, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

† 3 CRIME AND SECURITY [No debate]

Secretary Chris Grayling

That the draft Victims of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme 2012, which was laid before this House on 10 July, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

† 4 FAMILY LAW [No debate]

Secretary Iain Duncan Smith

That the draft Child Support Management of Payments and Arrears (Amendment) Regulations 2012, which were laid before this House on 15 October, be approved.

To be decided without debate (Standing Order No. 118(6)).

† 5 BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE (20 NOVEMBER)  [No debate after 10.00 pm]

Mr Andrew Lansley

That at the sitting on Tuesday 20 November, notwithstanding sub-paragraph (2)(c)(ii) of Standing Order No. 14, the backbench business set down for consideration may be entered upon at any hour before the moment of interruption.

If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 pm

† 6 BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE (22 NOVEMBER) [No debate after 10.00 pm]

Mr Andrew Lansley

That at the sitting on Thursday 22 November, notwithstanding paragraph (4) of Standing Order No. 14, the motion in the name of Secretary Theresa May relating to the Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism shall have precedence over the business determined by the Backbench Business Committee.

If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 pm

7 PUBLIC ACCOUNTS [No debate after 10.00 pm]

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, on behalf of the Committee of Selection

That Matthew Hancock and James Wharton be discharged from the Committee of Public Accounts and Guto Bebb and Justin Tomlinson be added.

If opposed, this item cannot be taken after 10.00 pm

At the end of the sitting:

8 PRESENTATION OF PUBLIC PETITION [No debate]

Car park charges (Scunthorpe) (Nic Dakin).

Presentation of petitions: no debate or decision (Standing Order No. 153).

9 ADJOURNMENT

Proposed subject: Unoccupied houses available for private rental in Newcastle (Chi Onwurah).

Debate may continue until 10.30 pm or for half an hour, whichever is later (Standing Order No. 9).

COMMITTEES

DELEGATED LEGISLATION COMMITTEES

To consider the draft District Electoral Areas Commissioner (Northern Ireland) Order 2012.

To consider the draft Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) Regulations 2012.

SELECT COMMITTEES

Subject: Taxation of Multinational Corporations.

Witnesses: Matt Brittin, Chief Executive Officer, Google UK, Troy Alstead, Starbucks Global Chief Financial Officer, and Andrew Cecil, Director, Public Policy, Amazon.

Subject: The work of the Department.

Witnesses: Sir Bob Kerslake, Permanent Secretary, Sue Higgins, Director General, Finance and Corporate Services, David Prout, Director General, Localism and Peter Scofield, Director General, Neighbourhoods, Department for Communities and Local Government, Sir Michael Pitt DL, Chief Executive, Planning Agency, and Pat Ritchie, Chief Executive, Homes and Communities Agency.

Subject: Rail 2020.

Witnesses: Anna Walker, Chair, and Richard Price, Chief Executive, Office of Rail Regulation; Rt Hon Simon Burns MP, Minister of State, Department for Transport (at 4.45 pm).

JOINT COMMITTEES

Subject: Panel on HBOS.

Witnesses: Mike Ellis, Finance Director, HBOS, 2001–04 and 2007–08; Phil Hodkinson, Finance Director, HBOS, 2005–06 (at 10.15 am); Peter Hickman, Group Risk Director, HBOS, 2007–08 (at 11.30 am).

Subject: Banking Standards.

Witness: Sir John Vickers, former Chairman, Independent Commission on Banking.

Subject: National Security Strategy.

Witness: Rt Hon Theresa May MP, Home Secretary.

[The decision of a Committee to sit in public may be rescinded without notice.]

PUBLICATION OF SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS

Post Office Network Transformation: Government Response to the Committee’s Third Report of Session 2012–13 (Fourth Special Report).

Written Ministerial Statements to be made today

1Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer: Budget ECOFIN 9 November 2012.

2Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer: ECOFIN 13 November 2012.

3Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: Business rates.

4Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change: Publication of the Energy Efficiency Strategy: The Energy Efficiency Opportunity in the UK.

5Secretary of State for Health: Improving birthing environments.